As both the stock exchange and market regulator, it is praiseworthy to note that Bursa Malaysia Bhd is leading the way in the quest to promote the appointment of more women on boards of listed companies.
Bursa’s board has intensified the pursuit of its target of three women directors in the near future, in line with the country’s aspirational target of 30% representation of women on boards, according to its CEO Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan.
“In its effort to promote boardroom diversity, our nominating and remuneration committee (NRC) has taken various steps to ensure that women candidates are sought from various sources as part of its recruitment exercise,” he tells FocusM. Currently, only two or 20% of Bursa’s 10-member board are women. The duo are Datuk Zuraidah Atan and Datuk Eshah Meor Suleiman, both of whom are non-executive directors.
Apart from the nominations which the NRC may receive from directors and committee members for its pool, Tajuddin points out that potential candidates are also being sourced from relevant bodies and/or regulator(s).